Sydney Trades Hall
Trades Hall was built as the home for the emerging NSW union movement and has a magnificent banner collection
10am–4pm
About the building
The Sydney Trades Hall and Literary Institute was built from 1888 to 1917 to provide a meeting place for trade unionists – where they could ‘speak with one voice’ – and a place to help educate the workers of NSW. It was established by unions who were affiliates of the Sydney Trades and Labour Council, today known as Unions NSW.
Australia’s first locally born architect, John Smedley, designed the building in the late Victorian Italianate style. It included union offices, meeting rooms, a library and a banner room. Trades Hall opened in 1895 and was subsequently enlarged in stages in the early 20th century. More recent alterations, in the early 2000s, combine original features with modern office spaces.
The building has played a significant role in Australia’s modern political and social history. The Australian Labor Party in NSW originated from the Labour Council, and the labour movement radio station 2KY started broadcasting from the tower in 1925. More than 90 unions were onsite in the early 20th century, and peace groups, women’s organisations, anti-Apartheid groups, environmental groups and more have found a home at Trades Hall over the years. Many visual reminders of unions, rallies and events are preserved and displayed throughout.
Sydney Trades Hall has remained a trade union building since its origin. It retains the Literary Institute Library that was part of the conditions of building the hall, and it has a magnificent banner collection.
Sydney Open visitors can see the original features of the building as well as signage and artefacts, including handpainted and woven union banners, union certificates, badges, photographs and posters.
Built
1888–1917
Architect
John Smedley
Alterations
Spain, Cosh & Minnett, 1903, 1911, 1917; GroupGSA, 2005
Find out more about this building here
Sydney Trades Hall
4–10 Goulburn Street, Sydney
Entry details
Foyer, atrium, auditorium, library and Lorna Morrison Banner Room
10am–4pm
3.30pm
Need to know
Accessible featuresThere is lift access to the ground floor via the Dixon Street entrance. All levels are accessible via lift. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor
Toilets availablePhotography allowed
